Drought relief payments start today, Southland farmers remain reserved despite strengthening local economy, and social media influences rising cottage cheese demand. Welcome to Proud Country's Early Bird - The top things you need to know that impact rural New Zealand delivered to you by 5am, because who doesn’t need better chat beyond the weather! Drought relief payments start today Drought assistance payments begin today for farmers, as the effects of the long, dry summer continue to impact farm production. The Rural Assistance Payments, available until October 28, will support eligible farmers whose incomes have been severely affected by drought conditions, across Northland, Waikato, Taranaki, Horizons and the top of the South Island, with support available until spring when farm incomes are forecast to improve. Despite the drought being technically over, its effects will spill over into next season. The dry conditions have already impacted this season's production through lower lamb carcass weights and reduced milk production on dairy farms, with the dry autumn likely to affect lambing percentages next spring as well. Farmers in the affected regions have been adapting to increasingly extreme weather conditions, with many using feed crops to protect lamb growth rates during extended dry periods. Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson encourages affected farmers to contact their local Rural Support Trust to explore available assistance options and apply for the Rural Assistance Payments. Fed Farmers cautiously welcomes farm plan reforms Federated Farmers is welcoming the Government's proposed improvements to farm plans as a positive step towards a more practical and affordable solution for the rural sector, while emphasising the need to see more detail. The planned overhaul aims to cut unnecessary red tape, compliance costs, and consenting requirements that have burdened farmers in recent years. Vice president Colin Hurst says a tailored farm planning system with a risk-based approach could be a game changer for farmers, potentially replacing expensive and uncertain resource consents and complex council rules. One significant win for farmers is the Government's agreement to reduce the number of farms required to have a plan by raising the threshold from the previous administration's 20 hectares. Federated Farmers had advocated for a 50-hectare threshold as a more pragmatic approach. Another practical improvement is confirmation that farmers won't need new plans when they already have existing industry plans achieving equivalent environmental outcomes. This eliminates unnecessary duplication and additional costs where farmers have already completed plans through dairy companies, meat processors or regional councils. Questions remain however, about certification of farm plans, who will pay for compliance audits, and how security will be maintained under the revised system. Southland farmers remain reserved despite strengthening local economy Economic indicators are pointing to continued growth for Southland, but local farmers remain cautious about celebrating too soon. While Westpac economists report that Southland, Otago and Canterbury are the strongest performing regions in the country, farmers are prioritising debt reduction over increased spending. Despite record Fonterra farmgate milk price forecasts between $9.50 and $10.50 per kilogram of milksolids this season, and beef and sheep farmers expected to earn $1.2 billion nationwide this year, profitability concerns persist in the rural sector. Westpac's latest Regional Roundup shows retail spending in Southland has grown 3% over the past year, with business confidence picking up across the region. Many businesses are planning to increase capital spending in the coming year, though operating cost pressures continue to squeeze profitability, particularly in retail and hospitality sectors. While the economic outlook appears positive, farmers remain uncomfortable with their current financial position, noting they're still not returning the profit needed to maintain long-term profitability.. Social media influences rising cottage cheese demand Fonterra says cottage cheese sales have surged more than 60% compared to the same quarter last year, as social media drives unprecedented demand for the high-protein dairy product. The dairy giant's consumer sales director Guy Blaikie says the craze continues to accelerate, primarily fueled by social media influencers. Supermarkets are witnessing the trend firsthand, with Woolworths NZ reporting a 50% increase in cottage cheese sales over just the past three months. Foodstuffs has experienced similar growth, with consumption up 50% compared to two years ago. Local producers are struggling to keep pace with demand. Waikato cheesemaker Kelvin Haigh of the Cheese Barn in Matatoki says orders now regularly exceed production capacity, noting the trend is being driven by younger consumers attracted to the product's high protein content. The cottage cheese phenomenon, which began with TikTok videos in the United States about a year ago, has now spread globally. Similar shortages are being reported across Australia, the UK, and America, with producers scrambling to increase production. The low-calorie, high-protein cheese has become particularly popular among health-conscious consumers and is being used in everything from smoothies and pancakes to spreads and dips. Science passion lands Bulls student farming scholarship Lincoln University student Jonathan Jamieson has been named the latest recipient of Ravensdown's Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship, recognising his academic excellence and passion for agricultural science. Growing up on a farm near Bulls, Jamieson has always been drawn to agriculture, which led him to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce in agriculture at Lincoln University. Now in his second year of study focusing on agribusiness and agricultural science. His studies have reinforced the importance of soil management, which he sees as the foundation of sustainable agriculture and a responsibility to future generations. Last year, Jamieson received the Prime Minister's Scholarship, enabling him to spend six weeks studying agribusiness in Vietnam. The experience exposed him to innovative farming practices such as combined rice and shrimp farming systems, where shrimp enrich the soil while rice provides a natural habitat for the shrimp. The Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship offers $5000 annually throughout the recipient's studies at Lincoln or Massey universities. Applications for next year's scholarship close December 15. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
